A Brief Clarification

UPDATE: November 30, 2015

Pastor Randy Booth recently contacted me to remind me that it was he, not Pastor Wilson, who had contacted me to endorse the book mentioned in the post below. (Pastor Booth is the co-author.) In my initial post, I mentioned Pastor Wilson and not Pastor Booth as the contact since I surmised that the former had enlisted the latter to approach me on his behalf. Pastor Booth assures me this is not correct: Pastor Booth approached me exclusively of his own accord. Therefore, my second sentence as it stands, while not intentionally inaccurate, is inaccurate. I sincerely apologize for any confusion or injury this misattribution may have caused.

INITIAL POST:

I was surprised to learn of the appearance of my endorsement of a book on justice co-authored by Pastor Douglas Wilson in a recent blog of his. A few months ago he kindly requested a hurried endorsement of this book. I was surprised by the request since it was the only time he has asked me to endorse a book. Though he didn’t leave me much time to peruse it (I was on the road speaking), it looked like a good book exposing the Leftist canard of justice, so I decided after prayer to draft a brief endorsement. Though Doug and I have had a difference or two over the years, I always try to be charitable (even in fervent disagreement), and endorsing the book would (I believed, and believe) be a charitable thing to do.

My endorsement for some reason did not appear in the printed version of the book, so I thought that the fact that it now appears for the first time, at this particular juncture, in one of Doug’s blogs might warrant a quick note of clarification for my friends.

I am willing to question and criticize actions and words, but not motives, and I am confident that the motives of Pastor Wilson’s inclusion of this endorsement are godly. However, an unintended effect (as opposed to intention) at this present time might be the inference by readers that I endorse coddling pedophiles, publicly mocking godly critics, and favoring convicted sex abusers over their victims. My friends know that I find these actions godless and reprehensible.

Sensing how my endorsement (as it has recently been contextualized) might be interpreted, I must mention that had I known then what I know now, I would not have consented to endorse the book. But I did endorse it in the good faith that my endorsement would in some small way bring glory to God. Since I acted in faith and charity, I do not regret my endorsement.

9 thoughts on “A Brief Clarification”

It is a careless and foolish person who justifies an endorsement to be charitable rather than because of the truth of the matter asserted. It is this type of Christian love which has ruined the Church. Can one imagine Jesus endorsing the Pharisees, who meant good in their eyes, and justify the action as P. Andrew Sandlin has? No. The book should have been read and the author judged by his life of actions and talk and other writings. Then, if the book was endorsed there be no need for excuses or, in the alternative a simple apology could be made for an error in judgement. Forgiveness would have been the obligation of the Christian.

Actually, a book is endorsed based on the book itself, no background check of the author needed (generally). (I work in publishing.) If you know the author is a hypocrite, it makes sense not to endorse the book. If you know you are in such hearty disapproval of the author’s other writings that you might have missed something bad in this book, then it might make sense to pass on it. But generally an endorsement says, “This book is worth reading” not “I can give a character reference for this man.” I would say that an endorsement should only be given if you know that this is a book you’d recommend to your friends, though, since it is a recommendation.

But with the timing of the publication of this endorsement, it makes complete sense to say “Recent history is relevant, and I’d like to distance myself from this man.”

Thank you for speaking this in love, publicly! Fierce love for a brother, often looks like a call to justice, and a call to justice is required here for the sake of the victims, past, present and future!! thank you.

I apologize. I thought I had read it on the back of the book, but I see that it was instead on the Canon Press website. I did read it months ago. My point being that a recent mention on his blog is not the first instance of the endorsement being used. I do know that I read your endorsement before I purchased the book, and I ordered the book in early June.